What's your workflow

[ebferro]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I'm new to digital having just acquired an M8.2. To say that I'm disappointed by the quality of the images produced would be an understatement. I've looked at many of the photos posted on the forum and am blown away by them, they are beautiful. Mine lack punch. I'm not doing anything to the photos, simply moving them from the camera to my PC. Do I need to sharpen my photos? Should this be done after the camera or should I apply some sharpening out of the camera. I have been trying to shoot raw. I don't think in camera adjustments can be made in raw. Should I shoot jpeg instead and apply sharpening in the camera? What workflow do people who use the M8.2 follow? What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[erl]

Excellent images are a product of a series or chain of elements. All of which must be excellent as one weak link in the chain will let the whole thing fail. You can aasume your camera is a good one providing it is not faulty. Your skills come into question which I or anyone else cannot answer for, then there is the software you use.

 

Let's assume you and the camera are up to scratch (homework for you to assess) then you must choose a software package(s) and learn to use it well. Phase One's C1 comes with the M8 and is excellent. The 'user manual' for it is pathetic unfortunately and you will need to go online and view (several times) the very good videos on the P1 website. It is worthwhile, but return bouts are helpful. Others here will direct you to Lightroom and many other software 'preferences.' All are legitimate so you must make a personal decicion eventually. Once you do that, return with more questions, of which there will plenty, so don't be shy with asking.

 

As an afterthought, shooting RAW rather than jpeg is smart with the M8. That is where its main strength is for extraction great detail.

 

Now go enjoy that great bit of gear as a supplement to your image making.

[ammitsboel]

My workflow is easy:

Shoot picture

Develop in C1

Enhance in PS

Put in it the trashcan

[Shootist]

First what lens or lenses are you using. It make a difference in post processing.

Older lenses are, from what I read on this forum, less contrasty (having less contrast) then modern lenses.

This can make you images look flatter then what you see on this and other site/forums and need more post prosessing to punch them up. If that is what you are looking for.

Second have you check the camera with your lenses for proper focusing. If the camera and lens combo are not focusing correctly you will not be happy with your images.

You need to do some controlled test. Camera mounted on a tripod focusing on something positioned at a angle to the camera so you can tell if the lens/camera is front or back focusing. Once you've done that and found out if the camera/lens combo is focusing correctly then you need to play with the settings in your RAW developer to get the image you want. Contrast, color balance, white balance, sharpening and the like.

 

No you should not shoot JPEG's. Stick with RAW DNG files. A lot of people like C1 saying it give the best image from the M8. I don't see it myself but I'll take there word for it. I use Photoshop CS4 (and before that CS3) and the Adobe Camera RAW program that comes with PS to process my DNG images. I do some minor sharpening, contrast adjustment and other things in ACR. It all depends on the image, lighting and what I'm looking from that image. I then open it in PS and make some more adjustments. It's all a personal thing. There is no "You have to do this then that".

 

Please post some of your images that you don't like and some you do. Think more of content of the image.

Here are 2 images of the same woman shot 8 second apart from one another.

And then one of the second cropped and touched up.

 

[ATTACH]152135[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]152136[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]152137[/ATTACH]

 

It's all about what you want from each image.

[Marquinius]

Hoping that "out of camera" photos are equal to what's posted here on the forum is a bit strong Sometimes it works, but mostly digital post processing is necessary: enhancing color, tonality, contrast and sharpening. And we're not talking about all kind of tricks, like cutting things out or pasting things in. Compare it to developping a negative.

 

Whatever program you're going to use (everybody has his or her favourite, I work with Lightroom and sometimes Photoshop, but I hear good things about ALL programs), getting that readable manual is going to be the biggest challenge.

 

One of the better books I read is "the 7 point system" by Scott Kelby (Photoshop), but there are many good books out there. Whatever: without it, you will lose a lot of time and have a big risk of getting frustrated.

 

If you want a simple start, go for either Lightroom or Aperture. They're affordable, there are some good and simple manuals to go with it and you can click and play and see what's happening instantly WITHOUT losing your original DNG.

 

Last but not least: go to "search" in this forum and look around.

 

Good luck and keep smiling: we've all been through that first phase

[jaapv]

I'm new to digital having just acquired an M8.2. To say that I'm disappointed by the quality of the images produced would be an understatement. I've looked at many of the photos posted on the forum and am blown away by them, they are beautiful. Mine lack punch. I'm not doing anything to the photos, simply moving them from the camera to my PC. Do I need to sharpen my photos? Should this be done after the camera or should I apply some sharpening out of the camera. I have been trying to shoot raw. I don't think in camera adjustments can be made in raw. Should I shoot jpeg instead and apply sharpening in the camera? What workflow do people who use the M8.2 follow? What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

I think the best thing for you to do is to buy a basic book on digital photography and post-processing. You'll get there, but you are on the first beginning of a steep learning curve.

Sharpening is the last thing you need. Shoot DNG, get Lightroom and follow a workshop. I'm sure your camera dealer can point you to a good one.

 

Post in the photoforum and ask advice.

Link to a few DNG files and some of us will show you how your images really look.

In other words, stick around, there are plenty of people here to help you. You need but ask.